100% of organisations reported that their strategy improved as a result of working with Vision Wild
CASE STUDY; LOWER ZAMBEZI,ZAMBIA >
In the Summer of 2019, I travelled to Zambia to support a brand new organisation to develop their 5-year organisational strategy. This strategy now underpins the work they are doing as an organisation and clearly explains to supporters and donors their mission and objectives.
THE ASSIGNMENT>
In the Chiawa Game Management Area wildlife have caused the death A new organisation established in the Lower Zambezi, Zambia needed to outline its role and contribution as an organisation, in an area where other NGOs were also working. Therefore it was key to this organisation to develop programmes and projects which were complementary to work of the existing organisation and ensure stakeholders participated at the early stages.
Further the organisation needed to develop a clear mission and strategy in order to outline their vision and gain the support of supporters and donors.
This is all set in a challenging socio-ecological context because populations of elephant and hippos regularly damage and destroy the crops grown by local communities. Having consequences for household income, food security and also endangering human life. The villages in this area are made up of subsistence households, which rely solely on cultivating small plots of land and the collection of natural resources. Set in this context, poaching of game foe sale or consumption is an issue.
The Zambezi River forms the border between four nations and therefore is vulnerable to international smuggling gangs and therefore ivory poaching is a problem in this area. However, due to on-going crop-raiding problems and potential to make money in this low-income area, ivory poachers are often supported by local people.
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THE APPROACH>
VisionWild were requested to develop a new 5-year strategy with the organisations board and involve local stakeholders at the information gathering stage. I travelled to Zambia to lead and facilitate a weeklong series of workshops involving local stakeholders.
Using 'theory of change' approaches, we established the underlying problems in the area. A stakeholder meeting was held to
understand the needs and challenges facing the local community and to take on board the opiniomns of other organisationsa working within the region.
I also undertook a series of workshops intended to inform the new strategy, this included an external stakeholder analysis, situational analysis, visioning and SWOT exercises.
From these exercises I collated information into a strategic plan document which was presented it to the organisation as an internal document.
THE RESULTS>
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The ZWT have a new clear strategy document, ready to present to donors and supporters
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The team have developed a clear 'theory of change' which forms the basis of their fundraising strategy and applications (including log frames)
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The ZWT have a clear vision and mission to communicate with members of the public
With Vision Wild's support, and based on the trip and strategy, the team are developing fundraising proposals to doors to alleviate crop-raiding issues, reduce poaching and improve the well-being of local communities.
